Nothing is Ever Easy

Posted on Tue Aug 25th, 2020 @ 2:19am by El Plexuco & Security Johannah "Mack" Shepard

Mission: This Week's Special
Location: Petrovich Residence
Timeline: Day after the disaster date

The Petrovich gunsel on guard duty waved Mack up into the apartments controlled by the Petrovich crime family, while another waved her up to Sasha's residence. They didn't take her weapons. There was an agreement in place. They wouldn't try and hurt her unless provoked, and she would show them the same courtesy. The agreement also implied that both parties would go out of their way to avoid provoking each other.

Mack felt pretty crappy about what happened to Oskanna. If she could have gotten away with it, she would have castrated both of the idiots who'd drugged the girl before handing them over to Sasha. But Mack couldn't get away with murder, and besides which if she'd castrated them, they would have begged for Sasha to kill them. No, ultimately Mack was fine letting Sasha get really creative carving them up. Now she just had to make sure he didn't do the same to her. Mack stood in the sitting room outside of the room Sasha used for an office and admired the decor. For a gangster, the guy had taste.

Sasha entered the room speaking to two men in his family or organization, it was really hard to tell a difference. He looked over at Mack and said something commanding in Russian. The two subordinates quickly ducked down a hallway. Sasha slowly crossed the room and stood directly in front of Mack, perhaps a little too close.

"I find myself dualy in your debt. You save my daughter from those ublyudok Tong fools. And you provided said fools to me to discern their fate. Both of which I am deeply grateful for. The Tong has grown emboldened lately. I fear a new sect of theirs is trying to gain a foothold on this station. The two you left me were quite eager to tell tales before their departure. We have not seen the last of their type I'm afraid. Bad for business these tong. They hurt my daughter, for that, they will be held to account."

Sasha's eyes narrowed. "Which brings me to the next set of accounts. I must know your intentions toward my daughter. While I acknowledge she was drugged last night, some of what she was repeating over and over sounded, shall we say...romantic. Unless you two were entertaining gentlemen I am unfamiliar with, I assume she was speaking of you. Unexpected of Oksanna, her mother may be more shocked than I, we will not inform her, but the notion of my daughter being in a relationship with the chief of security is concerning to me. You and I, we have an understanding, but Oksanna is very innocent and naive. Are you perhaps looking for an additional angle on how we run our donut business? My daughter will not be a pawn, not for the Tong, and not for you."

"Hey!" Mack said. "Slow your roll. All I did was tell a smart, attractive girl that she was smart and attractive, and then say yes when she asked me out for drinks. You're right. She is naive. She's twenty-four years old, the daughter of a powerful family, in other words a target, and she didn't instinctively know not to accept drinks from people she didn't know. Why is that?" Mack sighed. "Don't answer that. Look, asking me my intentions towards a young woman I've only known for less that 24 hours is hardly fair. Besides which, your daughter is an adult and neither of us get to make decisions for her. So, if I have to answer that question, I'd say that my intention is to make sure Oskanna is okay, and if she's still talking to me, maybe I'll try and help her with strategies and tactics for navigating the verse as a powerful man's daughter, or as anyone's daughter, really. You know. One powerful man's daughter to another and all that. Beyond that..." Mack shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I really don't think she does, either. Which goes back to her being naive and inexperienced. What I do know is that I would never use Oskanna as pawn against you or anyone else. It's up to you whether or not you choose to believe me."

Sasha took a step back but still stared into Mack's eyes. "No, no one knows what they are actually doing with love. It is a mysterious creature that strikes without warning. I was smitten with Oksanna's mother the moment I first saw her. She was from a better family than mine, and she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. We broke rules, our mother's hearts and every social norm to be together. I would not have it any other way. But now I have a delicate jewel bound to a simple donut maker. I have built all this... to be worthy of her. It is crazy this love. You do not break my daughter's heart. Even if you betray me, that is business, you hurt Oksanna, there is nowhere in the verse that I will not find you. But if you make her happy, that is good."

"Broken hearts are a part of opening your heart to another person," Mack said. "They walk hand in hand with relationships. They teach us about ourselves. But, if something does develop between Oskanna and I, I promise to do my best to always be fair and considerate and treat her well. I'm sure we'll hurt each other's feelings from time to time. That comes with the territory. But I won't abuse Oskanna or try to control her or try to hold her back. In fact, even if we're just friends, I'll try to lift her up and support her in living her best life." Mack smiled. "A wise man, the man who took me in when my family cast me out, once told me that good parents give their kids strong roots as a foundation for life, and strong wings so they can fly high and reach their dreams. You've given Oskanna good, strong roots, Sasha. If you let her flap her wings and fly, I think you'll find that she's got the potential for greater toughness, strength, and capability than you give her credit for."

A wide smile crossed the big man's face. "I like your attitude Chief Shepard. I work hard to give my children every advantage possible and make sure they know how to work hard. Perhaps being our first girl, her mother and I have been a bit protective of Oksanna. I am protective of all my children, but Oksanna is special. She has the head and the heart to become someone great in the Verse. She does not get tied up in the little distractions her sister tends to end up in. I thought Oksanna would do well at a Core world school. Instead she went into government service. That is respectable too. She can make a life for herself away from the Donut business. I have half a mind to get her on the first transport to the innerworlds, now that the Tong is acting up. Make a target of my daughter! They will be taught their place on this station. Times may be getting rather bumpy soon. I believe you will look out for her. That does an old man's heart good."

Mack breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you for your confidence," she said. "What do you want to do about Axe Tong? Anything you want me to do? How can I help?"

Sasha scratched his chin. "An excellent question. The two you brought me last night have already been disciplined. They will not be a problem again. Perhaps the Tong will count their loses and back off on whatever they are trying to achieve. I ask you just to keep your eyes open as you conduct your duties. If they continue to move aggressively they will become a threat to the merchants and citizens of the Skyplex. I do not need open fighting in the corridors. We shall watch and hope they come to their senses. If not, that will be another day, with other solutions."

"Fair enough," Mack said. She wasn't an Alliance Marshal. Sure, she still had to decide how to handle Nikolai Udinov, but Sasha Petrovich was another matter. Most of what Sasha was into, while not exactly harmless and victimless, was benefiting the Plex. To a certain extent, Mack could turn a blind eye to Sasha's business dealings. But an open war between the Petrovich Family and Axe Tong, a war that would undoubtedly rope in Udinov and others... that she wouldn't be able to ignore, even if she was essentially a private cop. "If there's nothing else, I need to get back to work. I'll stop up and see Oskanna later, after she's had a chance to get some rest."

"Thank you for stopping by Chief Shepard. I will let Oksanna know you were checking in on her. Do not be a stranger." Sasha said with a genuine smile.

"Of course," Mack said.